Effective Heel Fracture Treatment Options

The East Side Access development is clearly going to be a major project here in our Long Island community. Allowing Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) customers to head directly to and from Manhattan’s East Side will save up to 40 minutes a day in travel time—pretty much everyone will appreciate that!

The engineers behind the project have taken time to design safe, stable structures. You have such a stable structure in the back of your foot, too—your calcaneus (heel bone). However, this bone is not infallible, and sometimes heel fracture treatment is needed. Dr. Mark Gasparini of Long Island explain the various options we might use as treatment for a broken heel.

Naturally, the treatment we use will depend on the severity of the break, but it may include such methods as:

RICE. Rest, ice, compression and elevation all play roles in allowing a broken bone to heal correctly. Taking time off of the injured foot (resting) allows the body’s natural healing to take place. Ice is a valuable tool for relieving pain and inflammation in the area. Compression and elevation will further manage swelling.

Medication. We may prescribe or recommend certain medications to address any pain and/or inflammation caused by the fracture. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be particularly beneficial.

Immobilization. A brace, cast, or splint might be used to help keep the foot in the correct position during the healing process. Depending on the extent and nature of the fracture, a cast might be used for roughly 6 to 8 weeks. We sometimes provide crutches so patients can keep weight off the affected foot.

Surgery. When the fracture is severe, a surgical procedure may be needed to repair the heel bone and hold it in place during recovery. If we are recommending surgery, we will make sure you understand what the entire process entails beforehand, so you can know what to expect and can make appropriate arrangements.

Foot Specialists of Long Island will determine which heel fracture treatment will work best for your injury, and then provide the care you need. Our Nassau County foot doctor office is proud to diagnose and treat medical conditions that cause pain and impair functionality for our patients, who come from across the greater Long Island community. For more information on the services we offer, or to schedule an appointment with our office, call us at (516) 804-9038. If you’d like, you can request your appointment online today instead.